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Beyond the Numbers: |
Indiana’s 2013 Medicare Part D plan choices in plain text |
| Based on the 2013 Medicare Part D plan information released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS),
Indiana seniors and Medicare beneficiaries will find that 2013 will bring a number of changes to prescription drug
coverage and they should be prepared to examine their current 2012 plans closely to see what changes
are on the horizon for 2013.
Please note that the information we provide below is based only on stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (or PDPs). As many people know, a number of the Medicare Advantage plans also include comprehensive prescription drug coverage, along with Medicare Part A (hospitalization) and Medicare B (physician) benefits (also called MA-PD plans). However, because MA-PDs include many additional features (including Part A & B coverage) as compared to a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan, we do not try to compare the stand-alone drug plans directly with MA-PDs. |
What is new for 2013 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans? |
| First, the number of prescription drug plans available in Indiana has
increased. However, Twelve (12) companies will offer 2013 Medicare Part D plans in all states across the country. In addition, a wide assortment of regional and local Medicare Part D plans are offered within each state or CMS region, with the average number of prescription drug plans offered per state remaining the same at 31 plans in both 2012 and 2013. Locally, Indiana residents will find that the total number of stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans has increased from 31 in 2012 to 32 in 2013. As a note, if you find that your current 2012 Part D plan is not being offered in 2013, you may wish to review your Part D plan’s Annual Notice of Change (or ANOC) letter to see if you will be automatically moved to another 2013 prescription drug plan or whether you will need to actively choose a new Medicare Part D plan for 2013. 82% of Indiana seniors can expect to see their monthly prescription drug plan premiums increase in 2013 although the average monthly permium will decrease. Across the country, the national average monthly Medicare Part D premium will decrease from $53.99 in 2012 to $53.26 in 2013. Even so, based on the 2012 enrollment figures, 74% of Medicare Part D beneficiaries nationwide (over 12 million people) could experience an average increase in premium of $3.85, unless they switch to a lower priced plan. At home, Indiana residents will also notice a decrease in their Medicare Part D premiums. Even with the decrease, 82% of Indiana seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a stand-alone Medicare Part D plan, (or around 656,662 people) will see an average increase in monthly premiums of $3.71 in 2013 -- if they do not switch to a lower cost prescription drug plan. Overall, monthly 2013 prescription drug plan premiums in Indiana will decrease 0.36% from a 2012 average monthly cost of $55.79 to a 2013 average Part D plan premium of $55.43. The average monthly premiums discussed above treat all Medicare Part D plans equally. Perhaps a more telling average is the weighted average - that is, looking at each plan’s monthly premium based on number of people enrolled in that plan. Based on the weighted average, Indiana residents can expect to see a 4% reduction in their monthly premiums. This means that if everyone stays in their current 2012 prescription drug plan through 2013, then across the state we can expect beneficiaries to pay 4% less for their monthly premium. The range of monthly drug plan premiums will increase. Across the country, 2013 Medicare Part D plan premiums range from a low of $15.00 (AARP MedicareRx Saver Plus (PDP) in WI) to a high of $165.40 (BlueRx Enhanced (PDP) in DC DE MD) . Comparatively, the premiums within Indiana will range from $15.00 (AARP MedicareRx Saver Plus (PDP) in IN KY) to $113.80 (Humana Complete (PDP) in IN KY) - as compared to the 2012 Indiana monthly premium range of $15.10 to $117.10. Of those 2013 plans, 2 plan(s) will have a premium under $25 (in 2012, 1 Part D plan(s) were offered in Indiana with a premium under $25). More Medicare prescription drug plans will offer some level of coverage gap protection. The selection of prescription drug plan coverage options has also changed with more companies offering 2013 Part D plans with donut hole coverage. In 2012, 9 plan(s) offered plans with some form of donut hole coverage and in 2013 that number will increase to 12. People are reminded to see what drugs are actually covered in the donut hole because some Part D plans only cover a "few" drugs through the coverage gap. More Medicare prescription drug plans will offer plans with enhanced options. Indiana residents will find that more Part D plans will offer enhanced prescription drug coverage options with 17 enhanced Part D plans in 2013 as compared to 16 in 2012. Enhanced Medicare Part D coverage includes prescription drug plans that have a lower or no initial deductible and a variation of cost-sharing (for instance, copayments instead of co-insurance). For example, in 2013, the same number of Indiana Part D plans will offer prescription drug coverage with a $0 initial deductible (15 in both 2013 and 2012). Low-Income Subsidy Recipients in Indiana will have less Part D plans that qualify for the $0 monthly premium. Indiana Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for full "Extra Help" will find that fewer Part D plans qualify for the $0 premium Low-Income Subsidy as compared to last year. In 2012, 13 Medicare Part D plans qualified for the $0 premium Low-Income Subsidy as compared to 11 Part D plans in 2013. Please note, if you received "Extra Help" in 2012 and your plan does not qualify for the $0 premium in 2013, you may be automatically moved to a new Part D plan that does qualify for the $0 premium. If this occurs, please check to be sure that your prescriptions are covered on your new plan. If they are not, you can switch to a plan which will cover your medications. So what is the Bottom Line? Review your 2013 Medicare prescription drug plan options. Indiana seniors and Medicare beneficiaries will see more prescription drug plan choices in 2013 and lower premiums. In addition, behind the numbers, some of 2012’s more popular Medicare Part D plans will change their 2013 plan structure. Some plans are adding initial deductibles or changing cost-sharing limits (for instance, how much you pay after for a covered drug). Also, some plans actually change the initial coverage limit defining when you enter the coverage gap. Accordingly, people are reminded to consider their 2013 prescription drug plan options carefully. If you are a Medicare beneficiary and make no decision to change your existing prescription drug coverage, you will be automatically reenrolled in your existing prescription drug plan - along with any changes that have been made in coverage or cost for 2013. If your prescription drug plan is discontinued, and you are not automatically moved into a new plan, then you will need to enroll in another Part D plan or not have prescription drug coverage in 2013. For more information, Q1Medicare.com has developed national and state one-page interactive summaries of prescription drug plan information. Questions? Please let us know by clicking here for our Customer Help Desk. Click here to review Medicare Part D plan statistics for the 2013 plan year. |
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